What does Genesis 14:9 mean?
In this passage, four kings of the east, led by Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, have gone to war against the city-states and peoples of the land of Canaan. This is in response to rebellion among these Canaanite tribes. So far, the army has defeated everyone in its path, a southerly line east of the Jordan River all the way to the edge of the southern wilderness. Then, this counter-revolutionary force turns back north to defeat Kadesh and the peoples south of the Dead Sea.Now the four kings listed in this verse come to the Valley of Siddim to do battle against the five kings of the city-states grouped at the southern end of the Dead Sea. Those five kings include the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. Apparently, the battle won't last long, since the Bible only describes the aftermath, rather than the battle itself.
Genesis 14:1–16 is an action-packed story of war between ancient city-states. Four kings from the east arrive to put down a rebellion by five kings from cities around the Dead Sea. After defeating them, the eastern kings loot Sodom, carrying off Abram's nephew Lot and all he owns in the process. Abram gathers his own small army, along with three Amorite allies, and gives chase. They catch the enemy in the northern reaches of Canaan, defeat them, and recapture all the plunder, including Lot.
This short chapter is packed with action, adventure, and war. An army from the east comes to reestablish its rule over the kings of the city-states of Canaan. Five kings from the Dead Sea region rebel, are defeated, and Sodom is looted. Abram's nephew Lot is captured and taken away. Abram and his own small army chase down the eastern kings, defeating them and recapturing all that was lost. Returning home, Abram is met by a mysterious king and priest of God Most High called Melchizedek.
